Celtics star Jaylen Brown isn’t approaching this season any differently than he did the earlier 9. He isn’t concerned with the “media narratives,” together with those that label him as Boston’s No. 1 possibility now that Jayson Tatum will begin the season on the sideline.
“Clearly, it may be completely different with JT not on the ground, however by way of how I strategy issues, it is no completely different,” Brown stated when he joined NBC Sports Boston’s live stream throughout Celtics Media Day on Monday.
Brown believes there’s one space of his recreation he’ll have the option showcase extra, although.
“I believe my playmaking,” Brown stated. “Over the past two years, I have been put extra in that function to be a playmaker and regardless that the numbers have not actually jumped off, I believe I’ve improved in that space lots. I believe this yr might be a terrific yr to see that.”
Brown averaged a career-best 4.5 assists final season. It isn’t a quantity that jumps off the web page, as Brown shared. He ranked third on the workforce behind Tatum (6.0 assists) and Derrick White (4.8) and tied for forty fifth within the NBA. Nevertheless it was a noticeable enchancment after he averaged 3.5 assists per recreation over the earlier 4 seasons.
“Hopefully I’ve a number of triple-doubles this yr, a number of help video games,” Brown stated.
The Celtics need that from Brown.
With Jrue Vacation traded to the Portland Path Blazers and Tatum prone to miss no less than the vast majority of the common season, the Inexperienced want different guards to step up their recreation. Payton Pritchard and White will facilitate of their respective roles, however the Celtics would profit from one other participant like Brown doing the identical.
The four-time NBA All-Star had offseason knee surgical procedure after he played through a partially torn meniscus through the 2024-25 season. The process has allowed Brown to faucet again into his athleticism this offseason. Brown, who stated he is feeling a little bit lighter, is closing in on one hundred pc absolutely wholesome.
That is particularly factor given Brown wants to play with more pace this season.
“For me, I wanna play quick,” stated Brown, noting he is had that dialog with head coach Joe Mazzulla. “I have been saying that for a number of years now. A number of the groups we noticed play within the Finals, they play quick. Indiana performs quick. OKC performs quick. Increasingly groups play with that tempo. That is the tempo that I’ve at all times needed to play at.
“Our personnel hasn’t at all times been capable of go well with that, however I believe we’ll have the ability to play a little bit sooner this yr, so I am enthusiastic about that,” Brown stated.
If Brown can transition into an improved playmaker and facilitator, there might be loads of pleasure to go round.
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